Mr Roy Beggs asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the amount of Central Community Relations Unit funding allocated to Families against Intimidation and Terror during each of the past five years and what plans they have to ensure that this funding is continued.

(AQO 419/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT) was paid the following amounts by Central Community Relations Unit (CCRU) during the last five years:

£43, 432 in 1995/96; £30,160 in 1996/97; 31,628 in 1997/98; and £32,556 in 1998/99.

The Community Relations Unit within OFMDFM was prepared to offer grant aid at a similar level in 1999/2000. However, FAIT ceased operating in September 1999. Nevertheless, the Community Relations Unit is prepared to reimburse the organization for the costs of the services it provided during that year.

The Unit has also agreed to provide funding of £30,000 this year to the (NIACRO) Base 2 project, which provides a crisis intervention service for individuals and families placed under paramilitary threat in Northern Ireland.

Mr John Fee asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps it intends to take to improve consultation with marginalised groups.

(AQO 436/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Equality Scheme produced by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister included a commitment to hold a conference on the practical issues of carrying out future consultations. Two conferences have, in fact, been organised, the first taking place today and tomorrow the second on the 11 and 12 of December.

The particular focus of the conferences is on improving consultation with marginalised groups, and representatives of those groups will lead the workshops. Each public authority has been invited to send two senior officials to either of the conferences.

The conferences should lead to improved consultation by the public sector, particularly with ethnic minorities (including Travellers), older people, children and young people, carers, people with disabilities (including learning disabilities) and with gay and lesbian people.

We firmly believe that it is important for effective administration and the development of new policies which will benefit society as a whole, to have contributions from as wide a spectrum of people as is possible ( and that does of course include contributions from the DUP).

Mr Kieran McCarthy asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to make a statement on the equality impact assessment of the Programme for Government.

(AQO 405/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Administration’s commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity and tackling social disadvantage underpinned and informed the Programme for Government and shaped departments’ priorities. The equality implications of proposed actions and targets were central to their final selection.

As part of this process, an Equality Impact Assessment was drawn up for the Programme of Government. The Equality Scheme for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, submitted to the Equality Commission in July 2000, recognised that the Programme for Government was not a conventional policy or programme to which the standard approach to an equality impact assessment, as laid down by the Equality Commission, could be applied. As indicated in the draft Programme for Government, the Equality Commission has been consulted on how best to assess the Programme for Government.

Following that advice, OFMDFM wrote to social partners and the various equality constituencies, seeking views on what the priorities of the Programme for Government should be. These were taken into account when drafting the Programme. An Equality Impact Assessment was also annexed to the Programme. This assessment highlights actions, identifies the Section 75 categories affected and suggests how equality of opportunity might be enhanced in their implementation or how adverse impacts might be mitigated.

However, it was not possible to conduct a detailed equality impact assessment on the overall combined impact of the actions contained in the Programme for Government. It should be noted, however, that most of these actions form part of departmental policies which will themselves be subjected to equality impact assessments by those Departments.

Finally, all of the non-governmental organisations listed in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister’s equality scheme for consultation purposes have been sent a copy and have been invited to comment on the draft Programme for Government as part of the equality impact assessment process.

Mr Seamus Close asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to make a statement on the work of the Civic Forum to date.

(AQO 404/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Forum has established a number of working groups to consider a possible programme of work and the manner in which it will conduct its business. These issues and the role of the Forum were the main elements for discussion at a familiarisation event which the Forum members attended on the 27–29 November.

The next plenary meeting of the Civic Forum will be Wednesday, 6 December 2000 in the Burnavon Theatre, Cookstown.

Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to make a statement on equality of opportunity in employment.

(AQO 418/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: Under current anti-discrimination legislation, it is the duty of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious beliefs, between men and women, and between persons of different racial groups, and to promote the equalisation of opportunities for disabled persons. It is also the duty of the Equality Commission to identify, and keep under review, patterns and trends of employment for the purpose of considering whether they reveal the existence, or absence of, equality of opportunity in employment between persons of different religious beliefs.

The Equality Commission collects data from monitored employing concerns and publishes annual reports on this data. Its most recent report indicated that the Roman Catholic share of the monitored workforce in 1999 was 39.6% of those for whom a community was determined, while Roman Catholics made up about 42% of those available for work.

Data on applicants and appointees was collected by the Commission from all specified public authorities and private sector employers with a workforce of more than 250. These indicated that, in 1999, Roman Catholics constituted 47.6% of public sector appointees and 46.2% of monitored private sector appointees for whom a community was determined.

Further data on the religious composition of those in employment is contained in the Equality Commission’s Monitoring Report Number 10: A Profile of Northern Ireland Workforce - Summary of Monitoring Returns 1999, which is available in the Assembly Library.

Ms Carmel Hanna asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline how it is intended to progress Northern Ireland's Transportation responsibilities within the British Irish Council.

(AQO 440/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: At the inaugural summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in December 1999, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to take the lead on the topic of Transport. The first British-Irish Council Transport Sectoral meeting is scheduled for 19 December 2000 in Belfast. We will take the lead in that meeting.

Mr Eamonn ONeill asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps have been taken to assist in the training of Departments and non Departmental Public Bodies in respect of New Targeting Social Need.

(AQO 439/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: Our department has provided all Northern Ireland departments with core training material on New TSN. A one day seminar was held in October to introduce the new material to professional Departmental trainers, for use in training programmes within their own Departments.

Our department has also provided written guidance and has organised two seminars to assist non-Departmental Public Bodies which are developing New TSN Action Plans.

Mr Edwin Poots asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to define its remit on European Union policy.

(AQO 390/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: Under the devolution settlements, the UK Government retains responsibility for external relations, which includes the European Union. Negotiation of EU policy is at Member State level. Nevertheless, many devolved areas have a major EU dimension and it is in Northern Ireland’s interests to ensure it is involved in the formulation of UK policy towards Europe. We have therefore established close connections between OFMDFM and the Cabinet Office and FCO, while other departments pursue bilateral relations with their Whitehall counterparts. Co-operation in this area is the subject of the concordat on EU affairs which makes provision for frequent consultation between Whitehall and Northern Ireland departments. Any unresolved issues can be brought to the Joint Ministerial Committee on European affairs.

There is scope however for Northern Ireland to develop its own approach to Europe. OFMDFM is currently pushing ahead in a number of ways towards the development of such an approach. It will require consultation across departments, as well as with relevant outside interests, to identify the main priorities for Northern Ireland in Europe and the means of progressing them. The office of the Executive, which will be opening in Brussels in March, will facilitate closer links between departments and the EU bodies, and will help towards raising the positive profile of Northern Ireland. It is important that Northern Ireland participates actively and positively in the European family.

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the light of the recent report into Child Abuse by the NSPCC to make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

(AQO 406/00)

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon: The Executive Committee is determined to ensure that our arrangements for protecting children and upholding children’s rights are based on best practice.

We will carefully examine key developments throughout Europe including:

• the Waterhouse appointment of a Children’s Rights Director in England; and
• the appointment Report on child abuse in Wales and the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner for Wales;
• the appointment of an Ombudsman for Children in the Republic of Ireland.

We will also look at the roles of Commissioners for Children in the Scandinavian countries.

The Executive Committee will, in the light of these developments, consider what new arrangements are needed here when formulating proposals for the Children’s Fund.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what measures she has taken to investigate the increase in complaints about flooding received by the Rivers Agency.

(AQW 723/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): While localised areas have suffered significantly from flooding, in overall terms, the number of flood emergencies to which the Rivers Agency has responded over recent months has not been significantly above average for the time of year. The Agency has responded to all calls received within it’s published target response time of 3 hours from the receipt of call. In all cases, the causes of flooding were investigated and immediate measures taken as appropriate. In more complex cases, more extensive investigations are on-going to establish if cost-effective flood alleviation schemes can be developed.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to (a) detail what problems have been identified in the payment of the suckler cow premium and (b) what steps she is taking to ensure that all future schemes are properly planned.

(AQW 769/00)

Ms Rodgers: Advance payments of 2000 Suckler Cow premia commenced on 20 October. Over 83% of the claims received up to the end of October have now been paid. There have been teething problems with the processing of claims from producers with herds of 80 or more animals because of technical difficulties in picking up information from these claim forms. There have also been technical problems with the computer programme used to record the 2.75% Agenda 2000 quota reduction on affected claims. These difficulties have now been resolved and the cases concerned are now being processed, subject to the normal pre- payment and validation checks.

Despite these problems, all advance payments are proceeding well within the Department’s Charter targets. The new claim form scanning facility which has been introduced has considerably reduced the manual keying of data and has resulted in the more efficient processing of claims overall.

The implementation of payment programmes and other scheme-related transactions is closely monitored by senior managers at an operational level to ensure delivery within targets and European Commission legislative requirements. In light of the recent problems the existing control and monitoring regime has been strengthened. The Protocol to be published in 2001 will provide a comprehensive and clear explanation to farmers of how their subsidy claims will be handled and what they can expect from the Department.

Mr Gerry McHugh asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she has taken to access funding for the visioning process work from the Programme for Government.

(AQW 770/00)

Ms Rodgers: A number of the ideas emerging from the Vision Steering Group on the future of the agri-food industry have received funding through the Budget. Examples are the Beef Quality Initiative and, through the October Monitoring Round, a pilot scheme on Farm Waste Management. In addition, the draft Programme for Government gives a clear commitment that, during 2001, the Executive Committee will consider the outcome of the vision exercise and implement appropriate measures based on those considerations.

Mr Gardiner Kane asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the funds currently available for research into the development of a tuberculosis blood sampling test as a replacement to the serum test system.

(AQW 773/00)

Ms Rodgers: At present DARD funds three Research and Development projects of relevance to this area of work. In 1999/2000 expenditure on these projects amounted to £307,854.

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how "rural proofing" of all government policies will work and what administrative procedures and criteria will be applied to enforce it .

(AQW 798/00)

Ms Rodgers: Officials are working on proposals to implement the commitment in the draft Programme for Government to establish a Ministerial-led group to proof all Government policies for their rural impact. As we are still consulting on the draft Programme, it would be premature to finalise arrangements for implementing rural proofing.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her policy regarding risk reduction strategy for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Scrapie.

(AQW 803/00)

Ms Rodgers: The risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy is reduced by a range of measures including the ban on including meat and bonemeal in feed for livestock, the specified risk material controls, the destruction of TSE suspects and, in cattle, the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme, the selective cull and the offspring cull.

More recently work has begun in GB on the development of a National Scrapie Plan to reduce and eventually eliminate scrapie from the national flock. Work is also in hand to prepare a contingency plan setting out actions that might be taken in different scenarios if, in the future, BSE is found to be present in sheep. Scrapie is much less prevalent in Northern Ireland than in GB but, as a precaution, my Department has nonetheless been in regular and close contact with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on their development of the National Scrapie Plan and have also been fully involved in the development of the Contingency Plan.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the Phillips Report into Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

(AQW 804/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Phillips Report contains over 160 lessons, including many on public administration, and each needs to be considered very carefully. MAFF is leading that consideration with a wide range of Government Departments, including all of the devolved administrations with a view to preparing the Government’s substantive response to the report in the coming months. My officials are very closely involved in that process to ensure that we can take whatever action is necessary in Northern Ireland. I will keep the Assembly fully informed.

Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what discussions she has had with the European Commission and the United Kingdom Government regarding the review of the fisheries industry total allowable catch (TAC) quotas.

(AQO 430/00)

Ms Rodgers: Last week I received the European Commission proposals for TACs and quotas for the year 2001.

I was aware from the scientific advice in recent weeks that many stocks in European waters, particularly those around these islands which are of interest to local fishermen are in a parlous state and giving rise to serious concern among fisheries managers. Indeed, my examination of the Commission proposals bears this out with significant reductions proposed for many stocks.

As to discussions, there have been meetings between my officials and representatives of the local industry both here and in London to consider positions in anticipation of the Commission proposals. I will be talking to local industry representatives later this week. I also plan to visit Kilkeel and Ardglass during the week. I shall of course be meeting my English and Scottish fisheries colleagues prior to going to Brussels for the December Fisheries Council.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what discussions have taken place with representatives of the fishing industry concerning the annual negotiations on the Total Allowable Catch and Quota arrangements for 2001 and if she will make a statement.

(AQO 433/00)

Ms Rodgers: Last week I received the European Commission proposals for TACs and quotas for the year 2001.

I was aware from the scientific advice in recent weeks that many stocks in European waters, particularly those around these islands which are of interest to local fishermen are in a parlous state and giving rise to serious concern among fisheries managers. Indeed, my examination of the Commission proposals bears this out with significant reductions proposed for many stocks.

As to discussions, there have been meetings between my officials and representatives of the local industry both here and in London to consider positions in anticipation of the Commission proposals. I will be talking to local industry representatives later this week. I also plan to visit Kilkeel and Ardglass during the week. I shall of course be meeting my English and Scottish fisheries colleagues prior to going to Brussels for the December Fisheries Council.

Mr David Ford asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make a statement on European Council decisions on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

(AQO 402/00)

Ms Rodgers: The last European Council of Agriculture Ministers held on 21 November reviewed the latest developments on BSE throughout the Community and concluded that there was not only a need to ensure that existing EU measures be strictly implemented but also that there should be a harmonised Community approach to any additional measures. In view of these developments, the Council is holding a specially convened meeting today to consider new Commission proposals to respond to the current BSE crisis. The proposals include

A temporary ban on the feeding of meat and bonemeal (MBM) to ALL farm animals;

A requirement that all bovines aged over 30 months of age are tested to enhance consumer confidence;

A requirement that the current list of specified risk materials which must be removed and destroyed is extended to include the entire intestine;

A "purchase for destruction" scheme to remove all cattle aged over 30 months from the food chain unless they have been tested for BSE.

Most of these measures will have no impact on Northern Ireland because we have had similar measures, i.e. the OTMS, the ban on feeding MBM and the removal of the "long list" of SRMs in place since 1996. On the question of testing we are examining the proposals but indications are that this testing will only be required for animals that are over thirty months of age and destined for human consumption. As all cattle for human consumption in Northern Ireland must be slaughtered before they reach that age, it may be that testing of such bovines for BSE in Northern Ireland is unnecessary.

We are also examining the proposal to see how it extends the testing programme of "at risk" cattle due to come into effect from 1 January 2001. This will require Member States to test a random sample of bovine animals aged over 30 months that are not intended for the food chain, that is casualty animals and fallen stock. We already have a surveillance programme in place to test 2,500 casualty animals for BSE submitted under the Over Thirty Month Scheme but the latest proposal appears specifically to target fallen animals. We are seeking clarification from the Commission so that we can assess the full implications for Northern Ireland.

Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will detail how she proposes to spend the additional allocation of £500,000 for pollution prevention announced by the Minister of Finance and Personnel on 20th November.

(AQO 398/00)

Ms Rodgers: Subject to our obtaining EU State Aids Approval, the £500,000 in question will be spent on the introduction of a pilot Farm Waste Management Scheme. This Scheme will be aimed at minimising farm source pollution, which is contributing to water quality problems.

Under this pilot exercise we envisage giving capital assistance towards modest repair projects to slurry tanks and silage holding facilities, which are considered as being able to deliver a beneficial reduction in the risk of effluent escaping into watercourses.

We hope to commence this exercise as early as possible in the New Year.

In the case of nursery schools, the unit total is calculated on the basis of 7 points for every full-time equivalent pupil and 3 extra points for every full-time equivalent statemented pupil. The employing authorities have recommended an ISR of 2-8 for nursery schools with unit totals from 351-700. Edenderry’s and Grove’s 1998/99 enrolments include 1 and 3 statemented pupils and Ashgrove’s enrolment comprises part-time pupils.

c. The new pay scale was introduced from 1 September 1999 with unit totals calculated on the basis of October 1998 school census figures, apart from College Farm which opened on 4 January 1999 and whose ISR had therefore to be based on the projected enrolment of 52 pupils. October 1998 school census figures are shown in the table at ‘a’ above.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education if he will detail the funding allocated to provide special needs education within the South Eastern Education and Library Board area for the financial years 1998/99 and 1999/2000.

(AQW 742/00)

Mr McGuinness: The amounts spent by the South Eastern Education and Library Board on special schools, peripatetic teachers for children with special educational needs, home tuition, educational psychology and administrative staff and certain other special educational facilities in the two years requested were as follows : -

Expenditure in £000s

1998/99 1999/2000

Capital 376 411

Recurrent 11,549 12,561

A certain amount of expenditure on children with special educational needs is also included under the Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Grammar Schools headings in Board schemes but is not recorded separately. These figures have been extracted from the Board’s Final Financial Schemes and are provisional pending completion of audited Board Accounts.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education if, in relation to his forthcoming visit to Australia, he will detail (a) how this will be funded (b) how many officials will accompany the Minister (c) who these officials are and (d) the total cost of their attendance.

(AQW 951/00)

Mr McGuinness: This was a private visit which did not involve expenditure of public funds.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps he is taking to ensure energy efficiency in industry.

(AQW 750/00)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The promotion of energy efficiency in industry and commerce is the responsibility of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit within DETI. IRTU operates a programme of promotion and support measures including the regional management of the UK wide Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme. Over the past 5 years IRTU has assisted over 1300 companies on energy efficiency matters. IRTU will also be playing a key role in promoting an enhanced energy efficiency programme when the Climate Change Levy is introduced on 1 April 2001. Details of the support available can be obtained from IRTU’s web site at www.irtu-ni.gov.uk

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to provide a breakdown according to constituencies of the number of new jobs created with Local Enterprise Development Unit assistance in the 1999/00 financial year.

(AQW 758/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The table attached provides a breakdown of the number of new jobs created by businesses assisted by LEDU and its business start programme partners.

LEDU records this information by District Council Area only.

Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to provide a breakdown according to constituencies of the number of new business start-ups created with Local Enterprise Development Unit assistance in the 1999/2000 financial year.

(AQW 759/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The table attached provides a breakdown of the number of new business start-ups created by businesses assisted by LEDU and its business start programme partners.

LEDU records this information by District Council Area only.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his plans to bring new employment to the North Antrim constituency.

(AQW 764/00)

Sir Reg Empey: DETI seeks to encourage new employment from existing companies and new investors; and in the past couple of years in particular this investment has been mostly from the knowledge based sectors such as telecommunications, software development and call centre operations.

IDB has been working with local councils, including those in North Antrim, both to support the councils’ own efforts and to ensure co-operation with IDB in the attraction of these kind of projects.

This work has included participation in the CORE Group of Councils’ Strategy Conference in May 2000, and IDB has also recently held a seminar for all council Economic Development Officers in order to share experiences in marketing Northern Ireland as an investment location and encourage joint working in the future.

LEDU is the lead agency for enterprise and investment and is represented both on the Peace and Reconciliation Partnership and the Council’s Economic Enterprise and Investment group.

LEDU works closely with the economic development manager and local enterprise agency in ensuring a holistic economic strategy is developed for the area.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail proposed measures to promote the Northern Ireland National Cycle Network and the North Coast Cycle Route as a tourist amenity throughout the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 777/00)

Sir Reg Empey: With the support of the International Fund for Ireland, Sustrans, has been working closely with the NITB to develop a cycle/pedestrian path known as the North Coast Cycle Route to run alongside the proposed Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway. It is intended that when fully complete, the Trail will form part of the Northern Ireland National Cycle Network which itself is part of the UK Network. Sustrans is also working on a number of activities to help market and promote the National Cycle Network routes to the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to (a) confirm that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board will not become subservient to the new North/South Tourism Company and (b) confirm that the Tourism Company will market Northern Ireland on a world-wide basis and not as part of an All-Ireland entity.

(AQW 778/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) will be a joint owner of the North-South Tourism Company and NITB’s Chairman and Chief Executive will be on its Board which will have 50% of its members appointed from Northern Ireland. Responsibility for promoting and developing Northern Ireland as a tourism market remains with NITB which will use the new Company as the delivery mechanism for whatever regional advertising and promotional activity the Tourist Board wants to have in place.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the steps he is taking to encourage local industry and commerce to adopt "Fair Trade" policies.

(AQW 805/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Responsibility for encouraging UK companies to adopt "Fair Trade" policies rests with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). My Department would be keen to pursue any initiatives developed by DTI in this area.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of the Environment if his bid for additional funding from the Spending Review 2000 to finance a review of the taxi industry was successful, if he will outline how he intends to structure a review of that industry and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 797/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The draft Budget makes no provision for additional funds for my Department to undertake a review of the taxi industry in Northern Ireland. Consequently, I am unable to say at this point that the review will proceed or how it would be structured. However I will continue to look to see if I can find some capacity within the resources available to me to allow a review of the future regulation of the taxi industry in Northern Ireland to proceed.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what action he intends to take with his Republic of Ireland conterpart to address non-compliance with the European Union Directive on Sewage Sludge to protect residents in border areas and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 799/00)

Mr Foster: Compliance of individual Member States with EU Directives is a matter for the European Commission in the first instance.

I am not aware from my Department’s environmental monitoring systems, or from any other source, of any impact on border areas in Northern Ireland arising from the disposal of sewage sludge to land in the Republic of Ireland.

Any evidence of an impact in Northern Ireland should be brought to my attention or notified to officials in the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department. If I receive such evidence I will of course take the matter up with the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment if he is aware that non-compliance with the European Union Directive on Sewage Sludge and the absence of an adequate system of records by the Republic of Ireland could lead to the build up of heavy metals in the soil and if he will raise the implications of such failure for farmers in border regions with his Republic of Ireland counterpart.

(AQW 800/00)

Mr Foster: Compliance of individual Member States with EU Directives is a matter for the European Commission in the first instance.

I am not aware from my Department’s environmental monitoring systems, or from any other source, of any impact on border areas in Northern Ireland arising from the disposal of sewage sludge to land in the Republic of Ireland.

Any evidence of an impact in Northern Ireland should be brought to my attention or notified to officials in the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department. If I receive such evidence I will of course take the matter up with the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to raise the Republic of Ireland's non-compliance with the European Union Directive on Sewage Sludge with his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland to ensure that public health is not compromised in border areas.

(AQW 801/00)

Mr Foster: Compliance of individual Member States with EU Directives is a matter for the European Commission in the first instance.

I am not aware from my Department’s environmental monitoring systems, or from any other source, of any impact on border areas in Northern Ireland arising from the disposal of sewage sludge to land in the Republic of Ireland.

Any evidence of an impact in Northern Ireland should be brought to my attention or notified to officials in the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department. If I receive such evidence I will of course take the matter up with the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment if he is aware that the Republic of Ireland has not yet complied with the European Union Directive on Sewage Sludge and if his officials are monitoring the impact of non-compliance in border regions.

(AQW 802/00)

Mr Foster: Compliance of individual Member States with EU Directives is a matter for the European Commission in the first instance.

I am not aware from my Department’s environmental monitoring systems, or from any other source, of any impact on border areas in Northern Ireland arising from the disposal of sewage sludge to land in the Republic of Ireland.

Any evidence of an impact in Northern Ireland should be brought to my attention or notified to officials in the Environment and Heritage Service of my Department. If I receive such evidence I will of course take the matter up with the appropriate authorities in the Republic of Ireland.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (a) the different types of waste transported from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland in each of the last five years (b) the amount transported for each type of waste in each of the last five years (c) the destinations for the transported waste (d) the methods of disposal for each of the types of waste and (e) the health hazards associated with each of the

(AQW 811/00)

Mr Foster: The Department does not hold the information requested. Under the Basel Convention, the UK is required to report annually on the transboundary movement of wastes. District Councils, as the competent authorities for transfrontier shipment movements into and out of Northern Ireland, contribute to the report through returns made direct to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). The report, prepared by DETR deals with the UK as a whole and does not show any regional breakdown.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (a) those areas in Northern Ireland that have been designated Areas of Special Scientific Interest and (b) to list any other areas which may be added to this list.

(AQW 862/00)

Mr Foster: To date 179 Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) have been declared in Northern Ireland. The full list of these sites may be found on the Environment and Heritage Service website:www.ehsni.gov.uk

I regret that I cannot provide details of the sites which are yet to be declared. There is no full list of sites which meet the selection criteria for ASSI designation, as the process of survey and assessment is not yet complete. Based on current knowledge, however, the total number of sites is likely to be in excess of 400.

It is the practice of my Department not to publish the location of proposed ASSIs until such time as landowners, and other parties who may be directly affected, are consulted. This is in the interests of developing good relations with landowners and minimising the risk of damage to sites.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail her plans to address the needs of patients in relation to plastic surgery and burns units in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 734/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): I am determined to ensure that there is a sound, high quality service in plastic surgery, including burns. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board has been holding separate discussions with the RGH Trust and the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust with a view to enhancing the linkages between the Burns Unit at the RVH and the Plastic Surgery Unit at the Ulster Hospital. I hope that partnership arrangements between the two units can be developed so that patients can get the best treatment available.

In recognition of the increasing demand for plastic surgery, my Department has increased the number of trainees and an additional 5 plastic surgeons will qualify over the next 5 years.

I am also aware of the current concern over the position in relation to the specialist consultant in burns. The Royal Group of Hospitals (RGH) Trust recently advertised 2 Consultant Plastic Surgeon posts in its Burns Unit. The present locum consultant in the Unit, who applied for one of the posts, recently announced that he had received an offer of appointment in England and raised some concerns with the Trust about the adequacy of equipment and other aspects of the current service in the RGH. The Trust’s Clinical Director has been involved in close discussions with him to address his position and concerns and I hope that the matter will be satisfactorily resolved.

Tá mé meáite ar chinntiú go bhfuil seirbhís láidir máinliachta plaistí ardchaighdeáin ann, lena n-áirítear dónna. Bhí cainteanna ar leithligh ag Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir le hIontaobhas GRO agus le hIontaobhas Phobal agus Otharlann Uladh d’fhonn na naisc idir an tAonad Dónna ag an ORV agus an tAonad Máinliachta Plaistí ag Otharlann Uladh a neartú. Tá súil agam gur féidir an pháirtíocht idir an dá aonad a fhorbairt le gur féidir le hothair togha gach cóireála a fháil.

Aithníonn mo Roinn go bhfuil ag méadú ar an éileamh ar mháinliacht phlaisteach, agus d’ardaigh sí líon na n-oiliúnaithe agus cáileoidh 5 mháinlia plaisteach breise sna chéad cúig bliana eile seo chugainn.

Is feasach domh fosta an imní atá ann maidir le dála an speisialtóra comhairligh dónna. D’fhógair Iontaobhas an Ghrúpa Ríoga Otharlann (GRO) dhá phost do Mháinlia Plaisteach Comhairleach san Aonad Dónna le deireanas. Ar na mallaibh, d’fhógair ionadaí an dochtúra comhairligh atá ann anois san Aonad, a chuir isteach ar cheann de na poist, gur tairgeadh post dó i Sasana agus chuir sé in iúl don Iontaobhas go raibh imní air faoi shásúlacht an trealaimh agus gnéithe eile den tseirbhís reatha sa GRO. Bhí dlúthchainteanna ag Stiúrthóir Cliniciúil an Iontaobhais leis lena phost agus na hábhair is cúraim dó a chaibidil agus tá súil agam go mbeidh réiteach sásúil ar an ábhar seo.